A SCOTTISH man who started a petition to block another referendum has called Angus Robertson an “absolute idiot” after the SNP deputy claimed independence was “inevitable”.

After Theresa May’s Article 50 document was delivered to Brussels on Wednesday, Mr Robertson told MPs in the Commons: "The Prime Minister says that she thinks Brexit will bring unity to the United Kingdom, it will not. On this issue it is not a United Kingdom and the Prime Minister needs to respect the differences across the nations of the United Kingdom.

"If she does not, if she remains intransigent, and if she denies Scotland a choice on our future, she will make Scottish independence inevitable."

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A total of 69 MSPs voted to hold another referendum and 59 voted against

Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon (R) reacts as she leaves the chamber following a vote on the second day of the 'Scotland's Choice' debate on a motion to seek the authority to hold an indpendence referendum at the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh

“I just switch off whenever I hear him speak.”

Earlier this month, Mr Innes started a petition calling for a second Scottish independence vote to be blocked, suggesting that the country was “suffering hugely” as a result of the SNP’s repeated calls for another referendum.

AFP

Angus Robertson speaking in the Commons on Wednesday

Anyone with a modicum of intelligence in Scotland doesn’t listen to him – he’s an absolute idiot!

John Innes

The petition was hugely popular and currently has more than 217,000 signatories, including more than 100,000 people in Scotland.

In another blow to the First Minister, some of the constituencies with the highest number of signatories are SNP seats.

Almost 3,000 people in Angus Robertson’s Moray constituency have signed the petition, as well as almost five per cent of constituents in the SNP’s East Dunbartonshire seat.

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The petition is due to be debated by Parliament

Mr Innes added that he thought the Prime Minister was succeeding in the early stages of Britain’s path out of the EU.

He said: “I’m all for Brexit actually, I voted to leave and although I’m not a Tory supporter I think Mrs May is handling this extremely well.

“She’s saying there will be problems but they will be addressed and she appears to have a firm hand on things at the moment.”